On-Star Online to U.S. Government

Bob Barr Website ^ | 12-01-03 | Bob Barr

[Adder]

If the gov can do it, you can be assured that the bad guys can...or soon will be able to do so.
That is perhaps the biggest danger: stealing vitals and using them to access personal accounts or other identifying info.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..I am not involved in any type of illegal activity, so I have absolutely nothing to hide...

Everyone has something to hide, madame. You've chosen to post on a website known to harbour persons with strong anti government views, and (given current trends) one day you may be asked, 'why?'

[Iowa Granny]

If the gov can do it, you can be assured that the bad guys can

Point well taken.

[Lokibob]

You use a screen name, I wonder why? You have a PIN number to use your credit card, make sure you don't discuss it while in your automobile. Make sure you don't discuss your daily schedule while in the car, there are kidnappers out there.
These are just 3 things off the top of my head, that you probably need to consider.

[ovrtaxt]

Your dish does not have a transponder (an outgoing signal.) Your box has a phone line in the back for outgoing info.

[ovrtaxt]

Even if you don't pay, the unit is still active. It can always be used for emergency, and they can still track your location. It's ALWAYS on. (unless you rip it out of your trunk...)

If they can unlock or lock your doors remotely, I'll bet they can also shut your engine off, or manipulate anything else controlled by the car's computer.

[stuartcr]

Does it come free with the vehicle?

[MizzouTigerRepublican]

This is a great article. Now I have further proof to show my wife why we dont need this service. (We are looking at buying a new SUV and she liked the On-Star the GM Products provide) Maybe she will listen now and buy a different make of SUV.

[Tijeras_Slim]

When they come for me, I'll say I was a dupe of Byron_the_Aussie. :)

[CDHart]

Thanks for the info. As you can tell, I'm technologically challenged, to say the least!

Carolyn

[eyespysomething]

People are worried about the Patriot Act, when they should be worried about many other things.

* sigh *

The government can do what it wants at this point. Its too big to be stopped.

[stuartcr]

Does the OnStar come free with the vehicle, or is it an option?

[unixfox]

Transmission with a Dish netowrk satellite dish is impossible. One has to have an uplink transmitter in order to transmit to the satellite. Your receiver is hooked up to your phone line, when you order a movie it dials out for verification.

It used to be that you could dial out and let the order take place, unhook the phone line and it would not show up on your bill. However..I wouldn't know anything about that!

[wjcsux]

If they can unlock or lock your doors remotely, I'll bet they can also shut your engine off, or manipulate anything else controlled by the car's computer.
My point exactly. I much prefer to take the well being of my family and myself into my own hands. I don't need or want OnStar. Proper planning in advance to deal with any emergency is far superior to any high-tech gadget you can purchase.

[unixfox]

When you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

Oh really? What are you going to do when the jackboots come crashing through your front door on a no knock raid? Are you just going to accept their apology of "Oops, sorry lady wrong house."

FEAR THE GOVERNMENT THEY ARE THE ENEMY !!

[southern bale]

Bush signs nanotechnology research, development bill into law

Dec 03 15:13 - AP - AP Wire Service

WASHINGTON (AP) _ President George W. Bush signed a bill Wednesday to invest $3.7 billion for work in nanotechnology, the science of building electronic circuits and devices from single atoms and molecules.

The bill, which authorizes the money over four years, puts into law programs for research and development aimed at finding ways that nanotechnology can detect and treat disease, monitor the environment, and produce and store energy. The legislation is designed to help develop breakthroughs in nanotechnology that will lead to new products, new businesses, new jobs and new industries.

Nanotechnology is the ability to work at the atomic and molecular levels _ at scales, for example, that are about 1/100,000th the diameter of a human hair.

AP-WS-12-03-03 1510EST

[aruanan]

At any given time there must be more people out in the population than are available to listen to all those people.

That's what computers are made for. They can monitor zillions of phone calls and conversations electronically, flagging the invaders of privacy when certain words, combinations of words, or frequency of certain words are detected.

[stuartcr]

Don't you have to buy one of these first, or do they come free with the vehicle?

[CholeraJoe]

Well, I'll be...

Time to take the framing hammer to the On-Star panel in the Monster Truck.

[CholeraJoe]

Many of the higher end GM vehicles come with an On-Star device as standard equipment. You get emergency service free for a few months and then select what level of service you want thereafter. I just selected the basic emergency service - airbag alert, theft tracking, locked doors, etc.